Braiding machine



Jan. 1933- I G. E. HENNING 1,895,452

BRAIDING MACHINE Filed Jan. 1, 1930 5 Sheets-Sheet l Mel;

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Gem" efiffermin Jan. 31, 1933. HENNlNG 1,895,462

BRAIDING MACHINE Filed Jan. 1, 1930 5 Sheets-Sheet 2 fizz/m far- Geozye51992272172 Jan. 31, 1933. G E, NNH G 1,895,462

BRAIDING MACHINE Filed Jan. 1. 1930 5 Sheets-Sheet 3 J J 1933- G. E.HENNING 1,895,462

BRAIDING MACHINE Filed Jan. 1. 1950 5 Sheets-Sheet 4 Jan. 31, 1933.,HENNlNG 1,895,462

BRAIDING MACHINE Filed Jan. 1, 1930 5 Sheets-Sheet 5 6 jww Patented Jan.31, 1933 UNITED STATES PATENT. OFFICE GEORGE E. HENNING, OF BALTIMORE,MARYLAND, ASSIGNOR TO WESTERN ELECTRIC COMPAN Y, INCORPORATED, 013 NEWYORK, N. Y., A CORPORATION OF NEW YORK BRAIDING MACHINE Applicationfiled. January 1, 1930. Serial No. 417,837.

This invention relates to braiding machines, and more particularly tobraiding machines for applying an enclosing sheath to electricalconductors' The principal object of the present invention is a braidingmachine having a minimum number of parts arranged to cooperate to braidstrands of material accurately and efficiently and at a high speed witha minimum amount of vibration.

In accordance with the general features of the invention, there isprovided in one embodiment thereof, a braiding machine having a centralspindle around which two sets or series of cop carriers rotate with thecops of each set or series having their axes in spaced parallellongitudinal planes. Power is communicated to the lowermost of the copcarriers directly from a bevel gear connection, but in the case of theupper cop carriers which has its cops proper mounted on ball bearings,power is transmitted through disks having oppositely disposed grooves,which are secured to a shaft rotated from the central spindle, and whichpermit strands from the cops to pass in and around each other to effectthe braiding operation. Switching of the strands is accomplished by aset of alternately downwardly and upwardly directed stationary castdeflecting fingers which cooperate with a set of fingers rotating withthe lower cop carriers and having a contour determined by the outermostpoint of the strands from the lower cops to maintain a substantiallyconstant tension and thereby minimize breakage of the strands. Further,the operation of the machine is facilitated and expedited by having adistributor associated with a take-up spool which consists of a one-waythreaded screw cooperating with a reversible pawl mechanism for drivingthe screw in opposite directions to distribute accurately and uniformlythe braided material on the take-up spool. In addition to theseoutstanding features, the braiding machine is equippedwith a mechanismfor drawing oil from a source of supply and elevating the oil to a pointwhere it flows over the several moving parts, and also the 50 entirebraiding machine is enclosed in a housing having a slidable door whichallows easy and free access to all parts of the braider and which, whenclosed, materially reduces the noise and the possibility of injury tothe operator.

Other features and advantages of the invention will become apparent fromthe following detailed description, reference being had to theaccompanying drawings, wherein Fig. l is a front elevational view of abraiding machine embodying the features of the invention;

Fig. 2 is a fragmentary front elevational view of the machine, someparts being omitted for the sake of clarity;

Fig. 3 is a fragmentary vertical sectional .view taken on the line 33 ofFig. l in the direction of the arrows;

Fig. 4 is a fragmentary horizontal sectional view taken on the line 4-4of Fig. 1 in the direction of the arrows;

Fig. 5 is a fragmentary vertical sectional view taken on the line 55 ofFig. 1 in the direction of the arrows;

Fig. 6 is a fragmentary sectional View taken on the line 66 of Fig. 5 inthe direction of the arrows;

Fig. 7 is a fragmentary vertical sectional view on line 77 of Fig. 1 inthe direction of the arrows;

Fig. 8 is a fragmentary horizontal sectional view taken on the line 8-8of Fig. 7, and

Fig. 9 is a plan view, partially insection, showing the capstan drive.

Referring now to the drawings wherein like reference charactersdesignate the same parts throughout the several views, the numeral 11designates generally a braiding machine embodying the features oftheinvention mounted on a table12 provided with suitable supportingstandards 13. Beneath the table 12 there is provided a partition 14 forseparating a supply reel-16 from a takeup reel 17. A strand of rubbercovered wire 18 may be drawn from the reel 16 and advanced through thebraiding machine 11 wherein it is covered with abraided sheath andthence to the take-up reel' 17.

The reel 17 is rotated by a motor (not shown)- which drives a belt 19cooperating with a pulley 20. The pulley 20 is mounted on a stud shaft21 journaled on the end of a rocker arm 22 which has a spring 23attached to the outer end thereof for normally urging the pulleydownwardly to maintain tension between the belt and the pulley and topermit a slipping engagement therebetween to allow for changes in thediameter of the takeup spool as the material is wound thereon. Securedto the opposite end of the stud shaft 21 is a small gear 27 which mesheswith and drives a large gear 28 which is secured to a shaft 29. Formedon the large gear 28 is a pin which may be inserted in an aperture 30 inthe head of the reel 17 when the shaft 29 is inserted in the reel 17.

It will be apparent from the foregoing description that the shaft 29carrying the gear 28 is inserted in the reel 17 before the reel isplaced in the machine. After the shaft 29 and gear 28 have beenassociated with the reel it is rolled into positionunder the table 12and the shaft 29 placed in journals 31 provided therefor on the standard13 and partition 14.

The strand being covered is drawn through the braiding mechanism 11 by acapstan 32 mounted on a bracket 33 secured to the top of the table 12.Secured to they capstan 32 is a ring gear 37 which meshes with a pinion38 carried on the end of a shaft 39 journaled into suitable bearings 40and 41 formed on the bracket 33. The shaft 39 carries a bevel gear 42which meshes with and is driven by a pinion 43 mounted on the upper endof a vertically extending shaft 47 also journaled in a bearing 48 formedon the bracket 33. Mounted on the end of the vertically extending shaft47 is bevel gear 49 which meshes with a pinion 50 mounted on a shaft 51journaled in a bearing member 52 secured to the underside of the table12.. The shaft 51 also supports a pulley 53 for driving the belt 19, anda pulley 58 which is driven by the motor (not shown).

The braiding machine 11 comprises three principal parts, the stationarysupporting portion which includes a pedestal 59 and a guard or hood 60,an outer rotatable turret 61, and an inner rotatable turret 62. For thesake of simplifying the disclosures, these parts will be describedseparately and in the order in which they are mentioned hereinbefore. i

The ard or hood 60 surrounds the movable parts of the mechanism and iscomprised of a sheet metal hood 63 provided with an opening on one sidethereof as shown at 64 which may be closed by a slidable door 67. Thedoor 67 is provided with a handle 68 and is supported on rollers 69which engage the table 12 and the lower edge of the wall of the hood asshown at 70 when .the door is in one position and engage the top of thetable 12 and a channel member 71 which conforms to the general contourof the hood and to which the lower edge of the wall of the hood issecured. Extending from the upper edge of the door 67 is a top segment72 which is rotatably secured to an annular member 73 in turn secured tothe top of the hood 63 at the center thereof. The annular member 73 isthreaded internally and a projecting portion of a bracket 77 having anopening 78 therein which corresponds to the openingin the annular member73 is threaded externally and threadedly engages the annular member 73.The bracket 77 is semi-circular in configuration and has threaded in itslower end a thread guide 79 which may be adjusted vertically and lockedin any desired position by a lock nut 80. Disposed in a circle about theunderside of the hood 63 are four depending, arcuately shaped guidecastings 81, the function of which will become apparent as thedescription progresses.

The table 12 has mounted thereon a three footed hollow pedestal 59comprising an upwardly extending tubular portion 83 and feet 84 in oneof which feet is journaled a driving shaft 87 to which are securedhearing races 88 which cooperate with hearing retainers 89 secured tothe foot 84 of the pedestal 59. The left end (Fig. 3) of the drivingshaft 87 has keyed thereto a sprocket.

gear 90 and a brake drum 91. The drum 91 may be acted upon by anysuitable braking mechanism (not shown) to stop the machine, and thesprocket gear 90 is driven by a chain 92 connectedin any suitable mannerto the motor (not shown) which drives the take-up reel. Secured to theright end of the driving shaft 87 are a pair of bevel gears 93 and 97between which a depending portion 98 of the pedestal 59 acts as asupporting bearing for the driving shaft 87.

, An oil guard 99 encloses each of the feet 84 of the hollow pedestal 59to prevent a lubricating medium used to lubricate the moving parts ofthe machine from coming in contact with the material being worked uponand an annular oil reservoir 100 is secured to the underside of thetable 12 and has formed internally thereof an annular guide member 101.-Secured to the underside of the annular guide member 101 is a bracket102 which supports a guide roller 103 adapted to direct a strand drawnfrom the supply reel through the center of the braiding mechanism 11.

The annular guide member also forms a part of the oil reservoir whichhas a perforated annular apron 104 therein which prevents the lubricantfrom being splashed out of the reservolr.

' An annular cup shaped casting 107 is keyed at 108 to the upwardlyextending portion 83 of the pedestal 59. This casting has secured aboutits periphery four outwardly and upwardly extending guide castings 109which cooperate and are arranged in series with the arcuately shapedguide castings 81.

The upwardly extending tubular portion 83 of the pedestal 59 carriesexternally thereof bearing races 110 and 111 about which the outerturret 61 is rotated. The turret 61 has formed on the under surfacethereof a ring gear 113 which meshes with the bevel gear 93 on thedriving shaft 87. Carried by the outer turret 61 are a plurality ofstrand supply holders or cops 117, of which there are eight, equallyspaced about the turret. These strand supply holders or cops 117 areeach equipped with a paddle brake 118 of a type which prevents the copfrom overrunning when the machine is stopped suddenly. Secured to theouter turret 61 are a plurality of thread guide supports 119, oneassociated with each cop, which carry at their outer extremities eyelets120 and which also support intermediate their ends an eyelet 121, thepurpose of which will become apparent as the description progresses.

Mounted within the upwardly extending tubular portion 83 of the pedestal59 is a sleeve 123 which is journaled at its upper end in a bearing race127 disposed between it and the upper end of the pedestal 59. The lowerend of the sleeve 123 has secured thereto a ring gear 128 which mesheswith the bevel gear 97 mounted on the driving shaft 87. From the above,it will be apparent that the sleeve 123 and the outer turret 61 will berotated in the same direction and at the same rate of speed.

The sleeve 123* has formed on the upper end thereof a track carryingcasting 129 which has formed integral therewith an annular track 130 inwhich a series of slots 131 are formed at points therein adjacent theeyelet 120 mounted onthe thread guide supports 119. The casting 129 hasan annular shoulder 132 formed thereon to which is secured a spiral ringgear 133 and carries at spaced intervals about its periphery a pluralityof arcuately shaped guide members 134 which are of such configuration orcontour as to maintain strands drawn from a supply holder through theeyelet 120 under a constant tension. Specifically the contour of thesemembers 134 is determined by the outermost point of the strand passingthrough the eyelet 120 and as-shown the members 134 are arcuate shaped.

Rotatably mounted within the sleeve 123 and supported by ball bearingsas shown at 137 is a hollow shaft 138 which has keyed thereto adjacentthe lower end thereof a ring gear 139.' The ring gear 139 has a passage140 formed therein at the outer extremity of which is connected aspirally shaped scoop 141 which, upon rotation of the hollow shaft 138,will rotate in the annular oil reservoir 100. Fixed to the upper end ofthe hollow shaft 138 is the inner turret 62 which has journaled thereineight shafts 143, each of which carries at one end thereof a mutilateddisk 147 provided with diametrically opposite margmal slots or grooves147-A for the passage of strands or threads (Fig. 3) and at the otherend a spiral gear 148. The spiral gear 148 meshes with the spiral ringgear 133 and since the spiral ring gear 133 is rotated in a directionopposite to the direction of rotation of the turret 62 a rotary motionwill be imparted to the spiral gears 148 and disks 147.

The annular track 130 has a groove 149 extending around the peripherythereof in which an arcuately shaped member or carrier 150 is slidablymounted. The arcuately shaped member 150 has extending therefrom astrand supply holder or cop 151 equipped with a paddle brake 152 of anysuitable type which engages the surface of the cop to prevent backlashin the event that the machine is suddenly stopped and maintain aconstant tension on a thread being drawn from the cop. Also secured tothe arcuately shaped member is a supporting frame 153 which hasrotatably mounted thereon a ball bearing supported disk or roller 154adapted to engage the inner surface of the annular track 130 when thesupply holders are rotated at high speed about the' annular track. Astrand guide 155 extends outwardly and upwardl from the arcuately shapedmember 150. Klounted on the underside of the supporting frame 153 is aslotted shoulder 157 in the slot of which the mutilated disk 147 isrotated. From the foregoing, it will be apparent that the mutilateddisks being rotated in the slotted shoulder 157 and being simultaneouslyrotated about the axis of the hollow shaft 138 will draw the strandsupply holder around the annular track 130 in a direction opposite tothe direction of travel of theannular track.

The hollow shaft 138 has secured to the inner surface thereof a tubularmember 158 which cooperates with the inner wall of the hollow shaft toform an annular passageway 159 longitudinally of the shaft. Ad acent thelower end of the hollow shaft 138 the passageway 159 communicates withthe passage 140 and oil which has been picked up by the spirally shapedscoop 141 will be forced upwardly through the passage 140, communicatingpassageway 159 to apertures 160,161, 162, and 163 formed in the hollowshaft 138 to lubricate the various rotating members. The lubricant thusraised to the top of the machine will then be permitted to return bygravity through an aperture 167 in the track carrying casting 129andaperture 168 in the annular .turret 112. Passages 164 conduct the oilfrom the top aperture 163 to lubricate the shafts 143.

After the strand of wire 18 has passed through the braiding mechanism 11and has had a braided covering formed thereon by the braiding mechanism,it is directed to the take-up reel 17 which has been rolled up ramps 174and positioned in suitable bearings 31 provided therefor, and depositedthereon in even layers by a distributing mechanism designated generallyby the numeral 169. The distributing mechanism comprises a sheave170'freely rotatable on the end of a bracket 171 which extends outwardlyfrom the front of the table 12 and which has a roller 172 journaledtherein and engaging the inner surface of a depending frontportion 17 3of the table. The end of the bracket 171 removed from the sheave 170 isthreadedly mounted on a threaded member 17 7 so that upon rotation ofthe threaded member 177 the bracket will carry the sheave longitudinallyof the threaded member 177 and since the threaded member extendstransversely of the take-up reel 17, the sheave will be moved back andforth across the reel depending upon the direction of rotation of thethreaded member.

The threaded member 177 is rotated by means of a ratchet gear 17 8secured thereto by means of a pin 179 and adapted to be rotated step bystep by a pawl 180. The pawl is carried at the upper end of an ovalshaped member 181 which is freely rotatable about the threaded member177 and the longer portions of which extend vertically. Pivoted to theoval shaped member 181 at 182 is a rocker member 183 which carries atits upper end a substantially semi-circular spring 187 which has adepressed portion 188 adapted to engage the pawl at either side of itsaxis depending upon the position of the rocker memher, which positionmay be controlled automatically in a manner to be described hereinafter.The pawl is reciprocated by a rocker arm 189 attached to the pulley 20which drives the take-up reel 17.

The length of the stroke of the rocker arm 189 may be regulated by meansof an eccentric 190 positioned between it and the pulley 20 as shown inFig. 5 wherein the eccentric 199 is shown as being rotatable about thepivot 191. The eccentric may be secured to the pulley in any desiredposition by placing any one of a plurality of apertures 193 formedtherein over a pin 194 attached to the pulley. From the foregoing itwill be apparent that the amount of travel of the guide sheave 17 0 maybe accurately controlled with reference to the speed of operation of thetake-upreel ends engaging the surface of the threaded .member 177. Theouter ends of the pins 197 engage lugs 198 formed on the rocker member183 and move it either to the left or the right as viewed in-Fig. 7 tochange the position of'the depressed portion 188 of the spring 187 withrespect to the axis about which the pawl 180 is pivoted. Formed adjacentthe end of the threaded member 177 is an annular groove 199 into whicheither one of the pins 197 may be slid upon longitudinal movement of thethreaded member 177'. The threaded member 177 is rotatably supported inbearings 200 and 201 so that it may be rotated by the ratchet gear 178and may-be moved longitudinally by the engagement of the bracket 171with one of the bearings 200 or 201 and the continued operation of thepawl and ratchet mechanism. Upon such movement occurring, the annulargroove 199 formed in the threaded member will be shifted fromassociation with one of the pins 197 into association with the other ofthe pins whereupon the pins will move the rocker member to the rightor'the left (Fig. 7) about itsopivot to change the position of the pawlThe operation of the braiding machine, the parts of which have beendescribed hereinbefore, is as follows: The supply reel 16 con taining asupply of rubber covered wire to which a braided covering is to beapplied is rolled up the ramps 174 under the table 12 and onto thejournals provided therefor, whereupon the strand 18 is drawn from thesupply reel and passed through the tubular member 158 extending throughthe machine, through the thread guide 79, and passed several timesaround the capstan 32, and drawn from there to the guide sheave 170. Thestrand is drawn over the guide sheave 170 and attached in any suitablemanner to the takeup reel 17 which has been placed under the table 12.

A strand from each of the upper strand supply holders 151 is passedunder the curved portion of its associated strand guide 155 and over theupper arm thereof and then attached to the strand 18 which is ,to becovered and a strand is drawn from each of the lower strand supplyholders 117 and passed through eyelets 121 and 120 and thence around thearcuately shaped guide member 134 associated with that particular strandsupply holder and eyelet and is attached to the strand 18 to be covered.

The motor (not shown) may now be started to drive simultaneously thesprocket gear 90 and the distributing mechanism 169. The sprocket gearand its associated shaft 87 will thus be rotated and will drive theouter turret in a clockwise direction together with the track supportingcasting 129 and theguide members 134 supported thereby. The same shaftwill, through the pinion 97, drive the hollow shaft 138 in acounter-clockwise direction to carry theinner turret 62 inacounterclockwise direction. Rotation of the hollow shaft 138 willrotate the scoop 141 in the oil reservoir 100 causing it to pick up oiland advance it upwardly through the passageway formed by the innersurface of the hollow shaft and the outer surface of the tubular member158. The rotation of the inner turret 62' will cause a relative movementbetween the track carrying casting 129 having the gear 1 33attachedthereto and the shafts 143 carrying the spiral gear which mesheswith the spiral ring gear 133. In this manner the mutilated disks 147carried by the shafts 143 will be drawn around the axis of rotation ofthe turret and will simultaneously rotate about the axis of the shafts143 to alternately carry the mutilated portions thereof into the slottedshoulder 157 of the strand supply holder 151. From the foregoing, itwill be apparent that the upper strand supply holders and the lowerstrand supply holders are rotated about the pedestal 82 andsimultaneously therewith the mutilated disk which drives the innerstrand supply holders will be rotated.

During the rotation of the outer strand supplies the strand runningfromthe eyelet 120 to the strand or conductor 18 which is being covered,will alternately engage the downwardly extending guide castings 81 andthe upwardly extending guide castings 109 and will be directed therebyinto and out of'the slots 131 formed in the castings 129. There beingfour downwardly and four upwardly extending guide castings disposed atequldistant points about the axis of rotation of the strand supplyholders, the strand from the supply holder 117 will in each cycle ofrotation of the mechanism be directed downwardly four times and upwardlyfour times. Since there are eight outer and eight inner sets of strandsupply holders and since the inner and outer strand supply holders arerotated at the same speed in opposite directions about the common axis,the guide castings will direct the strands from the outer suppliesalternately under two of the inner sets of strand supplies and over twoof the inner sets of strand supplies, the strand being deflected intothe slot 131 and through the mutilated port-ion of the disks 147 whilethe upper strand supply holders are passed over b the slot under theimpetus furnished thereto by the disks 14:7. The contour of thedownwardly and upwardly extending guide castings is such that the strandfrom the supply holder 117 will be directed downwardly and upwardlywithout an appreciable change in the tension thereof at any time in thebraiding operation. In this manner a braided covering will be applied tothe strand 18 prior to its being advanced to the capstan 32.

The covered strand 18 which has been passed over the sheave 170 willthen be laid in even layers upon the take-up reel 17 by the sheave 17 0which is moved back and forth across the reel in the following mannerAssume that the sheave 170 at the beginning of the braiding operation isin its extreme left-hand position (Fig. 1) and that the right-hand pin179 is engaging the annular groove 199. With the parts in this tion, thedepressed portion 188 of the spring 187 will be engaging the pawl 180at'a point to the left (Fig. 7) of its pivot point causing the left sideof the pawl to engage the ratchet 178. Also let it be assumed that theeccentric 190 has been positioned on the pulley 20 so that the desiredamount of reciprocation will be imparted to the rocker arm 189. As soonas the braiding operation is started, as described hereinbefore,reciprocatory motion will be imparted to the rocker arm 189. This willcause the oval shaped member 181, whichcarries the pawl 180, tooscillate and drive the ratchet 178 in a counter-clockwise direction(Fig. 7). Rotation of the ratchet 17 8 in a counter-clockwise directionwill cause the threaded member 177 to rotate therewith and thereby drivethe racket 171 to the right across thereel until the bracket engages thebearing 201 whereupon further movement of the bracket is prevented andsince the reciprocatory motion of the rocker arm continues the threadedmember 177 will be shifted to the left. When the threaded member 177 isshifted to the left in this manner the annular groove 199 will be movedout of association with the right-hand pin 17 9 and into associationwith the left-hand pin 179 whereupon the spring 187 will be moved to theright (Fig. 7) where the depressed portion 188 thereof will be engagingthe of its pivot point causing the right side of the pawl to engagethe-ratchet 17 8. Further reciprocatory motion being imparted to therocker arm 189, the ratchet 178 will be rotated in the oppositedirection to advance the bracket carrying the sheave 170 to the leftuntil it engages the bearing 200 whereupon the threaded member 177 willbe shifted to the right to move the annular groove 199 into associationwith the right hand pin 179 and the pawl will again be reversed and willengage the ratchet with its left side. The racket carrying the sheave170 will thus be moved back and forth across the reel.

What is claimed is:

'1. In a braiding machine, inner and outer sets of strand supplycarriers, means for rotating said sets of carriers in oppositedirections about a common axis, with .an annular groove means for saidcarriers at comprising a member for engagement with said groove, and ananti-friction disk for engaging an opposite-surface of said annulartrack.

2. In a braiding machine, inner and outer sets of strand supply holders,means for rotating the holders in opposite directions and supporting oneend thereof,

pawl 180 at a point to the right a track provided about a common axis,means for supporting the inner supply holders including an annular trackhaving a. groove in the outer. peripheral surface thereof, a supplyholder carrier for traveling on the annular track, comprising asupporting frame, an arcuate member attached thereto for engaging thegroove in the track, and a roller bearing member for engagingtheopposite surface of the track to reduce friction caused bycentrifugal force during rotation of the supply holders. Y

3. In a braiding machine, a cylindrical guide track, a strand supplycarrier extending outwardly from said track rotatable around the trackand a single thrust roller of comparatively large diameter carried bythe carrier and engaging the inner surface of the track.

4. In a braiding machine, a cylindrical guide track having a continuousslot in the outer surface thereof, and a strand supply carrier rotatablearound the guide track, the carrier having a guide shoe engaging theslot in the outer surface of the track and a thrust roller engaging theinner surface of the track.

5. In a braiding machine, inner and outer strand supply carriersarranged to rotate in opposite directions about a common axis, acylindrical track for guiding the inner supply carriers, and a singlethrust roller of comparatively large diameter carried by each of theinner carriers, for engagement with the inner surface of the track.

6. In a braiding machine, inner and outer strand supply carriersarranged to rotate in opposite directions'about a common axis, and acylindrical guide track for the inner carriers having a continuous slotin the outer surface thereof, the inner carriers having guide shoesengaging the slot and thrust rollers engaging the inner surface of thetrack. p

7. In a braiding machine, inner and outer strand supplies each supportedatone end only and arranged about a common axis with their individualaxes extending radially of the common axis and in parallel horizontalplanes, and means for rotating the inner supplies around the common axisextending obthe inner carriers around the common axis, and having slotsfor the passage of strands from the outer supplies alternately over andunder the strands from the inner supplies.

10. In a braiding machine, inner and outer strand supply carriersrotatable about a common axis, and means for rotating the inner carriersaround said axis, comprisingdisks engaging the inner carriers anddisposed obliquely with respect to the axes of the asso- Y ciated innerstrand supplies.

11. In a braiding machine, inner and outer strand supply carriersrotatable about a common axis, the inner carriers having groovesdisposed obliquely with respect to their path around the common axis,and rotary disks engaging the grooves and provided with slots for thepassage of strands from the outer supplies alternately over and underthe strands from the inner supplies.

12. In a braiding machine, inner and outer strand supply carriersrotatable about a common axis, the inner carriers having groovesdisposed obliquely with respect to their path around the common axis,rotary disks engaging the grooves and provided with marginal. slots forthe passage of strands from the outer supplies alternately over andunder the strands from the inner supplies, means for rotating the disks,and means for simultaneously carrying the disks around the common axisto thereby rotate the inner carriers about said axis.

In witness whereof, I hereunto subscribe my name this 27 day of DecemberA. D., 1929.

GEORGE E. HENNING.

liquely with respect to the path of the inner supplies.

8. Ina braiding machine, inner and outer strand supply carriersrotatable about a common axis, and means for rotating the inner carriersaround said axis, comprising disks en aging the inner carriers anddisposed obliquely with respect to the path of the associated innercarriers around the common axis.

9. In a braiding machine, inner and outer strand supply carriersrotatable about a common axis, and means for rotating the inner carriersaround said axis, comprising rotary disks engaging the inner carriers,disposed obliquely with respect to the path of

